The Principal Regulations are amended by inserting after regulation C5A –
C5B Members of the House of Commons and office holders reaching 75 after 5th April 2006
(1) This regulation applies to any person whose 75th birthday falls after 5th April 2006 and who immediately before the relevant date –
(a) is a participating Member or a participating office holder, and
(b) would be entitled to receive a pension under regulation F1 or F3 if he had ceased to be a participant, a Member of the House of Commons and an office holder.
(2) The person may opt under this regulation not to remain a participant in the principal scheme on and after the relevant date.
(3) The option must be exercised by notice in writing given to the Trustees at least six months before the relevant date or on such later date before he reaches the age of 75 as the Trustees allow.
(4) A person who exercises the option under this regulation –
(a) ceases to be a participant on the relevant date,
(b) is treated for the purposes of these Regulations (except regulation F8) as if he ceased to be a Member of the Commons and an office holder on the relevant date (and accordingly is entitled under regulations F1 and F3 to receive the pension to which he would be entitled if he had so ceased, but subject to regulation F8), and
(c) is treated for the purposes of regulation G1 as having given notice under regulation G1(1) of his desire to commute into a lump sum such part of the pension as is specified in the notice under this regulation.
(5) In this regulation “the relevant date” in respect of a person is the day before that person’s 75th birthday.